It should be said that Liu Yu set the worst precedent. After him, the last emperor of the previous dynasty never ended well. Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty abdicated to Cao Pi and was granted the title of Duke of Shanyang. The lineage of Emperor Xian was passed down to the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Cao Huan abdicated to the Sima family and was granted the title of King Chenliu, which continued for more than 200 years. All the way to Nanqi. But Liu Yu killed the Sima clan, which was not only the ugliest performance, but also a manifestation of Liu Yu's lack of confidence.
It is said that there are only two emperors from civilian backgrounds in Chinese history, one is Liu Bang and the other is Zhu Yuanzhang. In fact, there should be another one named Liu Yu, but Liu Yu did not unify China. That's why I didn't mention him. Liu Yu and Zhu Yuanzhang are very similar.
They are all from the lowest level of society. They are cruel, generous, vicious and kind. Various characters that are difficult to integrate are fully reflected in them. But in terms of personal ability, military talent, governing the country, and controlling hundreds of officials, Liu Yu is still much worse than Zhu Yuanzhang.
In 420 AD, Liu Yu was already 58 years old. At this time, Liu Yu no longer had the courage to set up the Queyue Formation, destroy Nan Yan, defeat Lu Xun, and dominate Shu. Liu Yu was complacent and unscrupulous. There is no courtesy in court. The powerful ministers before Liu Yu were all from noble families, such as Wang Dun, Heng Wen, Xie An, Shou Liang, etc., who had a superficial respect and support for the royal family.
But Liu Yu came from a rough background and started as a military ruffian. He had an instinctive aversion and disgust for aristocrats and wealthy families (similar to Zhu Yuanzhang). As far as he is concerned, Liu Yu is old. Just like a miser, he hopes to pass on the inheritance he created to his son because he is too old. Afraid of not being able to endure it. So he stepped up his efforts to usurp the throne and ascend to the throne.
Liu Yu was in 421 AD. He sent someone to poison the fool Emperor Sima Dezong. There were only two idiot emperors in feudal history, and they happened to be one during the Eastern and Western Jin dynasties.
Liu Yu poisoned the emperor. At that time, all the aristocratic families did not dare to fart. It can be said that since Liu Yu came to power, the powerful families , the wealthy noble families are inferior to each other. Moreover, he is in danger of being confiscated and exterminated at any time. The Han people and common people gradually stepped onto the stage of history. After Liu Yu poisoned Emperor An of Sima Dezong, he made Sima Dewen the emperor, known as Emperor Gong in history. After Emperor Gong ascended the throne, Emperor Gong granted Liu Yu the title of King of the Song Dynasty
But the King of Song Dynasty Liu Yu pretended to retire. Zhongshu Ling Fu Liang had a quick mind and understood what was going on. He knew that Liu Yu was going to become emperor. Immediately arrange for the emperor to abdicate, destiny is in Song's trick.
In June 421 AD, Emperor Sima Dewen of the Eastern Jin Dynasty abdicated to Liu Yu. In the 103rd year since the founding of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the country fell after ten emperors. Liu Yu made sacrifices to heaven in the southern suburbs of Jiankang and ascended the throne. The country's name was Song, and changed to Yuan Yongchu. Liu Yu was Emperor Gaozu Wu of the Song Dynasty. After Sima Dewen abdicated. He believed that he would be the second Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Liu Chan, the later leader of the Shu Han Dynasty, and Cao Huan, the last emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Relinquish the throne as emperor and spend his remaining years in peace. But the reality is cruel.
Just a year later, Liu Yu sent someone to poison Sima Dewen. Sima Dewen said indifferently: suicide cannot be reincarnated as a human being. Several killers used quilts to kill Sima Dewen. He died of suffocation at the age of 36. From then on, Liu Yu set the worst precedent. The last emperor in the past dynasties never had a good ending. Following the example, when Qi State destroyed Song Dynasty, Liu Yu's descendants were also poisoned. Tit for tat. And there is also the famous saying of Liu Yu's descendants: "In the next life, you will be reincarnated and never be born into an imperial family."
The reason Liu Yu killed the former emperor was first of all because he was not confident. Like Zhu Yuanzhang, he came from a poor family. He had a strong sense of inferiority and insecurity, which made Liu Yu want to nip all dangers in the bud. . Cao Pi, Sima Yan, including Hengxuan who ascended the throne for a short period of time, as well as Xie An and Wang Dun were all of noble origin, with good education and noble temperament. This makes them unwilling and unwilling, let alone disdainful to do so.
Differences in education and origin lead to different handling methods. Furthermore, the Southern Dynasties was the peak period of the family, if the Sima family was not eradicated. Once there are careerists from aristocratic families who take the opportunity to rebel. It is entirely possible for Liu Yu to fail. But Liu Yu's actions set the most shameless precedent, and the last breath of the Chinese aristocracy was cut off.